AEIJMR Vol 4 Issue 8 August 2016 ISSN - 2348 - 6724

The role of NGOs in Tribal Education in India

*DR.G.Sundharavadivel
*Associate Professor, Dept. of Adult and Continuing Education, School of Social Science,
University of Madras, Chennai-600005
Introduction
The non-governmental or the voluntary organisations have been playing a crucial role in all
the socio-economic spheres, including that of the tribal peoples, in India. At one level, they
can be termed as the means' by which the nation makes optimum use of its human
resources. However, the mushrooming of voluntary organisations working in the field of rural
development in recent years has generated widespread debate about their role, structure,
programmes and performance.
A unique feature of voluntary organisations is that they stimulate voluntary action among the
target community and involve the progressive elements of that community. In the present
context of human resource development, voluntary organisations, in their functioning, have
demonstrated the freedom and flexibility of working with a personal touch, a capacity for
initiative and experimentation with novel programmes. Thus, voluntary organisations exercise
full freedom in selecting localities for programme implementation and are free of bureaucratic
hassles. In the Indian context, the attributes of a tribe are that they live in relative isolation of
hills and covered forests, and often in geographical areas inaccessible to the mainstream
population. Tribes generally are groups without a written letter or script. Their sense of history
is shallow or mixed with mythology, and in terms of their cultural ethos, language, customs,
institutions and beliefs, they stand out from other sections of society.
In India, tribes have different names such as vanyajati, vanavasi, pahariya, adimajati, janajati,
anusuchit jati and scheduled tribes -- all of which mean the aboriginal'. India stands second
in terms of tribal population after Africa in the world. According to the 2001 Census, the total
population of the tribals is 84.2 million, and accounts for 8.2% of the country's population.
There are about 689 scheduled tribes speaking about 105 languages and 225 subsidiary
languages. They have traditionally lived in about 15% of the nation's geographical area, mainly
forests, hills and the undulating inaccessible terrain in plateau areas that are rich in natural
resources. They have lived mostly as isolated entities for centuries together and this explains
their politico-socio-economic backwardness.
However, we have to acknowledge that even before the freedom struggle a few voluntary
organisations were active in the sphere of tribal welfare. They also played a significant role in
the field of rural development and nation building and continued to do so. Many great
personalities took initiatives to form such organisations, which at present, are performing a
key role at the grassroots level in implementing various developmental works. Until such time
that a genuinely democratic machinery of governance evolves, there will remain a strong urge
for voluntary organisations to play a mediating role between the State and the people.
As early as 1871, the Bhil Seva Mandal came up in Gujarat. At that time, A.V. Thakkar was
the moving spirit behind voluntary organisations committed to tribal development. By the time
India got independence, he could establish more than 20 voluntary institutions in different
parts of the country. Some other leaders in the Indian National Congress were also involved in
tribal development activities. Dr. Rajendra Prasad's Bharatiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh helped a
lot in shaping the tribal policy when the Indian Constitution at the drafting stage. Various
approaches have been evolved in the country in the domain of tribal affairs; prominent among
them are the voluntary agency approach, the political approach and the anthropological
approach. These three approaches find support in three important policies:

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1. Policy of Isolation
2. Policy of Assimilation and
3. Policy of Integration.
After Independence, the policy of integration was found to be the most suitable one. Also,
Nehru's concept of tribal integration was reflected in the successive five-year plans. The policy
of integration is the outcome of serious research activities undertaken by many social
anthropologists in India. Its main objective is social integration and cultural assimilation'. It
was in the fifth five-year plan that the tribal sub-plan (TSP) approach was adopted. In order to
fulfill the sub-plan objectives nearly 198 ITDAs and 257 MADA pocket, 78 clusters and 75
micro projects for primitive tribal groups (PTGs) were set up all over the country.
Consequently, various strategies came into being. With the passage of time, it has widely been
noted that the programmes and activities related to tribal development cannot be implemented
by the governments alone. Thus, the significance of participation of the community and the
role of voluntary organisations/NGOs was realized in this all-important sphere.
Objectives:
To study the role of NGO's / voluntary organizations in tribal development.
To study the budgetary allocations for tribal welfare.
To analyze the amount spent for various developmental programs like vocational training

centres and literacy programs.

To study the tribal participation in the NGO sector.

Methodology:
The present study used the literature available in different tribal welfare departments,
government of India source on tribal welfare, its budgetary allocation and their analysis. A
detailed analysis was made using budgetary allocations and their expenditure on the literacy
rate improvement, vocational training and other welfare activities. An interpretation was made
from the financial year 2001-02 to 2006-07 on the different developmental programs.
Voluntary organisations are necessary:
A voluntary organization can easily adapt itself to the needs of the people. A sensitive worker
can assess each specific situation with sympathy and personal care. Thus, the gulf that arises
between what should be done and what is being done as a result of somewhat inflexible
operation of the administrative apparatus, can be bridged.
Objectives of NGOs / voluntary organisations
Whatever the nature of NGOs/voluntary organisations, they play a key role in the upliftment
of the weaker sections of society. The objectives of voluntary or non-governmental agencies
include some or all of the following:
To create an awareness regarding participation in socio-economic development
To create an able and efficient local leadership
To assist in the planned efforts to create socio-economic infrastructural facilities
To facilitate the process of expanding employment opportunities
To induce appropriate persons to set up small scale productions and
To make the tribals give up the pre-agricultural technology and seek better education.

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Role of NGOs / voluntary organisations

NGOs/voluntary organisations have a long history of active involvement in the promotion of
human welfare and development. They come up with a mission to serve a human cause,
spontaneously-voluntarily and without any compulsion or control, to fulfill certain needs of
specific groups of people. These organisations are flexible and possess the virtue of
humanitarian service with concern. Voluntary action is the soul of social action as this
medium secures active involvement of the people from policy making to implementation of
programmes. Their activities cover a diverse range of functions in the welfare sector. The
programmes of voluntary organisations are strictly service-oriented, professional in nature
and specialized in functions. The essential feature of voluntary action is that it fixes the
problem. It starts to not only to solve a problem but also to prevent the occurrence of it.
Voluntary action, thus, ultimately aims at creating a situation conducive to the development
of potentialities in individuals, groups and communities so they can find solutions to their
problems and realise their ultimate goals.
Regarding the role and nature of voluntary organisations, there appears to be two different
views. Some are happy with the functioning of such organisations and plead for their
increasing role. According to them, these organisations should be given ample scope to serve
people. For, the government agencies, crippled as they are with bureaucratic complications
and rigidity, have failed to work satisfactorily. Others hold that it is undesirable to give undue
importance and authority to voluntary agencies as there is a great possibility of
institutionalizing the chances.
In this context, the suggestion is that the voluntary organisations should be given ample scope
to work in collaboration and co-operation with the government agencies and subject to strict
government scrutiny and monitoring. The need for involving the NGOs in rural development
was highlighted and acknowledged by various official committees set up by the Government of
India. One of these was the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) which in its report
emphasized that during the implementation of community development schemes more and
more emphasis should be laid on NGO's /VOs. The Dhebar Commission in its report on the
scheduled areas and Scheduled Tribes opined that the principle of active and purposeful
participation of people at all levels could best be served by assigning an important role to nonofficial organisations. It is necessary in any democratic framework to take up some of the
nation-building activities under non-official auspices.
The report of the committee on Panchayat Raj Institutions (1973) appreciated the role of
voluntary organisations in the development of rural and interior areas. The committee
reiterated that these organisations could be particularly involved in conceiving projects and
schemes. They can be of great help in creating strong public opinion in support of measures of
social change. The Sivaraman Committee set up by the Government of India also
recommended involvement of voluntary organisations in planning and implementation of the
integrated rural development programmes. Thus, there exists a widespread agreement among
all the concerned that voluntary organisations have an important role to play in the overall
development of the rural areas.
Grant-in-Aid to voluntary organisations for the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the key governmental agency with respect to the welfare and
development of the tribal peoples all over the country. It is the responsibility of the ministry to
reach the target groups, particularly the tribals living in remote and inaccessible areas. The
objective is to bring them into the mainstream of development by assisting them to overcome
their social, psychological and educational backwardness. Capacity building is the key factor
here. Such training would equip them to employ their capabilities to their fullest potential
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thereby reducing their reliance on others and achieving self-sustenance to the maximum
extent possible which is the ultimate goal of the government.
The NGOs supplement the efforts of the State in ensuring that the benefits reach the
maximum number of people. In certain cases, voluntary organisations are in a better position
to implement the governmental schemes in a more efficient manner than the administrative
machinery. This is primarily attributable to the highly committed and dedicated human
resources that are available with the voluntary organisations. The role of NGOs was in the
reckoning since the first five-year plan. Many organisations have done commendable job in
tribal areas and are still active. Since the last two decades, there has been an exponential
growth in the number of NGO/VOs approaching the ministry of tribal affairs for financial
assistance.
It has been felt that along with few very dedicated and committed voluntary organisations /
non-governmental organisations a large number of other organisations have also come up that
want to grab public funds for their narrow and selfish interests. The ministry would take all
the possible steps to curb the entry of such voluntary organisations/nongovernmental
organisations in the field of tribal welfare. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs feels that some
organisations solely depend on aid from the government. This situation has to change. The
voluntary organisations should aim to expand their effort on the support from the government
and thereafter establish other support systems that could free them from financial
constraints.
It should be the intention of the organisations to obtain support of other sources for their
work. This can happen after they establish themselves with the support of the government
and prove their usefulness to society, at large. If the impression that NGOs can support
themselves financially gains ground, then the support of corporate houses and even the
community would follow as a natural consequence. Contribution, both in kind and cash,
would come easily once their credentials are firmly established. Additional resources, if
necessary, could also be mobilised. Voluntary organisations should make all possible efforts to
involve the community in their work. Community participation helps in building confidence
among the people and in providing feedback for further improvement and reorientation of the
programmes. Thus, the long-term interests of the tribal communities can be served. The
Ministry of Tribal Affairs endeavors to provide full advantage of all schemes to the nongovernmental organisations/voluntary organisations that have absolute credentials in the field
of tribal welfare. It also wants to promote new groups with brilliant ideas and new strategies
for the speedy development of the targeted people.
It has been the constant endeavor of the ministry to identify the voluntary organisations/nongovernmental organisations which have an all India character and known for their selfless
service and facilitate them with some preferential treatment with regard to sanction of new
proposals and relaxation of certain norms and conditions relating to release of annual grants.
In this direction, the ministry has identified a few such organisations and categorized them as
"Established Voluntaries Agencies (EVAs)"
The following organisations have been identified as the EVAs by the ministry:
Ram Krishna Mission and its affiliated organisations
Akhil Bharatiya Banavasi Kalyan Ashram
Bharat Sevashram Sangh and its affiliates
Bharatiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh
Seva Bharati & its affiliated organisations
Vidya Bharati and its affiliated organisations
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Swami Vivekanand Youth Movement
Schemes in the voluntary sector
There are three on-going schemes with the ministry, which are open to participation of the
voluntary and non-governmental organisations. The schemes are:
Grantinaid to voluntary organisations working for welfare of scheduled tribes (GVWST).
Educational complex in low literacy pockets for the development of women's literacy in
tribal areas (ECLP)
Vocational training centers (VTC)
In addition to the said schemes, the ministry has an exclusive programme for nongovernmental organisations with regard to the development of primitive tribal groups (PTGs)
Scheme of grant-in-aid to voluntary organisations working for the welfare of the
scheduled tribes (GVWST)
Objective: The prime objective of the scheme is to provide for an overall improvement and
development of the target group i.e., the scheduled tribes though voluntary efforts in the fields
of education, health & sanitation, environment, drinking water and legal services as well as
the need-based socio-economic upliftment efforts. It also supports other relevant activity
deemed appropriate and having a direct impact on the target group. The scheme is under
implementation since 1953-54.
Salient features: The grants are provided to the non-governmental organisations on their
application in prescribed formats, in the form of supporting projects that meet the objectives
of the scheme. The NGO's are required to maintain separate accounts in respect of the grants
released to them, which are open for inspection by all appropriate officers/agencies of the
government. The NGO is also required to maintain separate accounts of Grant-in-Aid audited
by the Government Auditor or a Registered Chartered Accountant and submit complete set of
copies of Audited Statement of Accounts as prescribed by the Ministry. The grants are
generally made in two installments every year subject to satisfactory performance of the NGO.
Activities of the NGOs are monitored as per the established provisions of the Financial Rules
besides field inspection by the Ministry or the State Government officials or by any other
agency designated by the Ministry.
Funding Pattern: Funds are granted to the extent of 100 per cent directly to the NonGovernmental Organizations working in the Scheduled Areas based on the recommendations
of the State Governments and the Union Territories. The non-governmental organizations are
supported to the extent of 90 percent of the project cost for projects in areas other than
Scheduled Areas. However, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has the discretion to assist even up to
hundred percent.
Schemes of Educational Complex in Low Literacy Pockets
The Scheme was introduced in 1993-94 in 136 districts with less than 10 per cent literacy
rate among tribal women. It is being implemented through:
Non-Governmental Organizations
Institutions set up by the Government as Autonomous Bodies and
Registered Co-operative Societies.
Objectives: The primary objective of the scheme is the promotion of education among tribal
girls in the targeted districts of the country. The secondary objective is to improve the socioeconomic status of the economically backwards and the illiterate tribal masses.
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Coverage: The scheme covers 136 districts with less than 10 percent literacy among ST
women spread over 14 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat,
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and
West Bengal.
Procedure for Release of Grant-in-aid and Funding Pattern
The extent of assistance under the scheme would be 100% in all cases.
In the event of the Ministry of Welfare itself executing any element of the programme i.e.
engagement of consultants, for project formulation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as
expenses towards cost of training of NGO functionaries, etc, full cost shall be borne from the
budgetary provision of the scheme.
Under the programme, while predefined cost heads are stipulated at the project formulation
stage, each implementing agency shall submit a detailed project proposal clearly bringing out
the programme modalities and individual expenditure heads. Ministry of Welfare while
approving the project shall indicate the extent of support to the project as a whole as well as
to each component of the project against which re-appropriation to the extent 20% of the total
grant shall be permissible.
Salient Feature: Educational complexes can be set up in rural areas in the notified districts
and can have classes up to V with provision for up-gradation up to Class XII provided they
have sufficient accommodation for classrooms, hostels, kitchen, and garden and for sporting
facilities. These educational complexes impart not only formal education to tribal girls but also
train students in agriculture, animal husbandry and other vocations and crafts as to make
them skilled for leading a better life. The teaching from classes I to III is imparted in tribal
dialects of the area and women with proficiency in tribal dialect are engaged as teachers. The
strength of students for each class is fixed at 30, however a maximum of 10 more students, if
available, in the locality are admitted as day scholars.
Establishment of Ashram schools
The Ashram schools have played an important role in raising the literacy levels of the
scheduled Tribes. They provide the necessary environment conductive to learning. The
schedule is in operation since 1990-91.
Construction of Girls Hostel for scheduled Tribes
The main objective of the scheme is to ensure adequate enrolment of scheduled Tribes girls in
educational institutions, particularly at the school stage. The scheme of girls' hostels for
scheduled tribes has been in operation since the Third Five Year Plan.
Construction of Boys Hostel for Schedule Tribes
The main objective of the scheme is to ensure adequate enrolment of Scheduled Tribes boys in
educational institutions, particularly, at the high school level. The scheme of Boys Hostel for
Scheduled Tribes has been in operation since 1989-90 under the Centrally-sponsored scheme
of Establishment of Boy's Hostel in Tribal Sub-Plan areas.
Schemes for Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs)
Objective: There are certain tribal communities that are having low levels of literacy, declining
or stagnant population, and pre-agriculture level of technology and are economically
backward. There are 75 such groups in 15 States/UTs that have been identified and
categorized as the Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). Each of these groups is small in number,
differentially developed with respect to one another, of remote habitat with poor administrative
and infrastructure back up. Therefore, they are in urgent need of support from the
government as well as the non-government agencies. Their protection and development at par
with other tribal groups has to be accorded utmost priority.
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Scope: Such provisions/activities should not be identified only at the central level as they may
differ from State to State and within a State from project to project (ITDA). However, funds
under the scheme could be used for helping the beneficiaries of the project to cope with
extremely adverse situations that threaten their very survival and protect them against
various forms of exploitation thereby bringing them to a stage from where they can demand
and receive specific assets and services. The activities under the scheme may include
measures such as awareness generation and confidence-building, training for skill
development of tribal youth, self help groups and provision of services/ inputs not covered by
any existing scheme. In terms of beneficiaries, the scheme can cover maximum number of the
PTGs.
Implementing agency: The scheme will be implemented through integrated tribal
development projects (ITDP) / Integrated Tribal Development agencies (ITDAs), tribal research
institutes (TRI) and nongovernmental organisations having requisite skills and determination.
The State government concerned will be responsible for proper execution, implementation,
supervision and coordination of the scheme, including selection of NGOs.
Vocational Training Centers
Objectives: There is a great need for vocational training centers in tribal areas where the Left
wing extremism is on the rise. Large-scale unemployment has been stoking rebellious
tendencies among the tribal youth in such areas. The extremism is manifestation of
frustration and lack of faith in the present pattern of development. It is necessary that both
the State and Central governments should make efforts to wean away the tribal youth from
disruptive activities. Establishing vocational training institutes and creating a wide range of
employment opportunities can be the way forward.
Non-governmental organisations shall meet the following requirements:
It is a registered body under an appropriate Act so that it gets a corporate status. A legal
personality and a group liability have to be established for its activities.
It has an appropriate administrative structure and a duly constituted managing/executive
committee
The aims and objects of the organisations and programmes in fulfillment of those aims and
objects are preciously laid down and
The organisation is initiated and governed by its own members on democratic principles
without any external control.
Conclusion
In India, we have a pluralistic society as opposed to a monolithic culture. The voluntary
organisations cater to the needs of our cultural plurality. If we would like to avoid
concentration of power in the hands of a few, we must retain this multi-ethnic character of a
free society and make full use of it. Voluntary organisations can serve as power breakers'.
Efforts should be made to prepare people for a new kind of society through voluntary work.
When the State's resources are limited, voluntary action would bring forth additional
resources and cover the areas hitherto uncovered by the State. In view of their flexibility in
operation, ability at experimentation and innovation, pioneering spirit and other such
qualities, voluntary organisations can continue to work for better standards, better methods
and better forms of organisation. There is an argument that at the empirical-existential level
voluntary agencies are nothing but the stooges of the ruling elite and the corporate sector,
mainly of the capital finance variety. In this new role, voluntary organisations have created a
crisis that begs a comprehensive solution.
However, given the circumstances in terms of administrative or governmental reach, especially
in the implementation of welfare schemes for the tribal peoples, we for once cannot deny the
positive role of the non-governmental organisations. There are many areas yet to blink the
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state's radar. They are either very remote or inaccessible. In such a situation, the concerned
and committed civil society groups have no other alternative but voluntary approach. The role
of NGOs in the fields of education, health, sanitation, housing and particularly agriculture has
not been a wide ranging one. We shall hope they would expand their area of action.
References:
1. G.S. Ghurye, The scheduled Tribes, 2nd Edition, 1958
2. Dhebar, Commission Report on Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes, Delhi, 1961.
3. D.R. Methe, "Legal Protection to Tribals and Tribal Development A New Deal for Tribals and
Tribal Development" in S.G. Deogaonkar (ed), Problems of Development of Tribal Areas, 1980
4. Verrier Elwin, A New Deal for Tribal India, 1963
5. S.C. Dude, "Approaches to Tribal Problems in India, Kitab Mahal, Allahabad, 1968
6. Kulkarni, V.M. Voluntary Action in a Developing Society, New Delhi, Indian Institute of
Public Administration, 1969.
7. Gore, M.S., Relative Roles of State and Voluntary Agencies in the Organisation of Social
Services", Proceedings of the seminar on So Administration in Developing Countries', New
Delhi, India International Centre, New Delhi, 1964,
8. Franda, Marcus, Voluntary Associations and Local Development in India : The Janta phase,
New Delhi, Young Asia Publications, 1983
9. Verghese, B.G., "Voluntary Action: A New Mission for the New Missionaries", Voluntary
Action, XIV: 1, January- October, 1977
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Windey, M.A. "A Rural Reconstruction Movement in India " Voluntary Action, XVIII: 3-4
March- April , 1976
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Shah, Ghanshyam and Chaturvedi, H.R. Gandhian Approach to Rural Development:
The Valid Experiment, Delhi, Ajanta Book International, 1983

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